Straight-to-series pickups have been popular with cable nets and the new online content producers such as Netflix, but now the broadcast networks increasingly are using the strategy—which could be a boon for working actors.

Backstage's June 6 issue features a roundtable discussion with five stars who have had Emmy-worthy seasons. One of the actors, Guillermo Diaz of "Scandal," discussed how he tackles some of the more difficult scenes his character has had to endure.